Story highlights

Vladimir Putin brought his Labrador into a meeting with Germany's Angela Merkel in 2007

The German leader is reportedly scared of dogs after one bit her in 1995

Putin told a German paper he had no intention of scaring Merkel, and had apologized

(CNN)Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a German newspaper he did not mean to scare Chancellor Angela Merkel when he brought his pet Labrador in to meet her during an infamous press conference nine years ago.

The magazine reported she had later told journalists: "I understand why he has to do this -- to prove he's a man. ... He's afraid of his own weakness. Russia has nothing, no successful politics or economy. All they have is this."

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Elsewhere in the Bild interview, Putin was complimentary of the German leader although he denied having said he admired her.

"I never said that. I value her as very professional and open," he said.

Putin said that, despite tensions with the West, both sides had a shared interest in fighting Islamic terrorism.

"We should stand together much more globally in the fight against terror, which is a big challenge," he said. "Even though we don't agree every time and on every subject, no one should take that as an excuse to declare us enemies."